The Lighthouse Keeper
OUT SEPTEMBER 9, 2025! All books ordered with The Lighthouse Keeper will ship together in September 2025.
Eugenio Fernández Vázquez and Mariana Villanueva Segovia
Translated from the Spanish by Kit Maude
The coast can be a dangerous place, especially in stormy weather. Fortunately for us, out in the middle of the sea lives the lighthouse keeper, a remarkable person who dedicates his life to saving the lost and shipwrecked. You'd think he'd be lonely out there all on his own, but he has a secret friend who visits him when he least expects and most needs it.
These enchanting, beautifully illustrated verses tell a tale of selflessness, resilience, and love, showing us that help is at hand even in our darkest, scariest moments.
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ISBN: 979-8-9887499-4-3
7.4” (W) x 10.5” (H) • 48 pages • Hardcover
$19.95
REVIEWS
★STARRED REVIEW! “No need to fear—the lighthouse keeper is here! Alone amid a sea of restless waves and pitch-black nights, a lone lighthouse keeper rescues those in need. Snazzily dressed in round blue spectacles and a yellow and green striped suit with wide lapels, the keeper “embraces everyone he finds lost and alone, // and they leave feeling better / eager to get back home.” His most loving and complicated relationship is with the moon, the very entity controlling the vast waters he safeguards. He works on building their bond through waters calm and stormy, and eventually they form a genuine connection. This is a stunning look at the power of compassion and resilience, as well as the need to respect nature. Maude’s fantastic translation of Mexican author Fernández Vázquez’s original Spanish text is playful, with a rhyme scheme that scans well. Villanueva Segovia’s textured illustrations are beautifully scaled, capturing the awe of the quiet yet sometimes violent activity of the oceans—showcased in harrowing spreads of sailors caught in a shipwreck and waves crashing against rocks in bright pastel tones set against a deep rich black backdrop—while still maintaining a sense of whimsy throughout… A remarkable look at the importance of selfless acts.”—Kirkus Reviews
★“Am I the only one reminded of Tomi Ungerer when I look at this book? This story concerns a kindly lighthouse keeper who doesn’t just light his beacon every evening, but is on the perpetual lookout for anything and anyone that needs his help. Please take note of the fishy beard.”— Fuse 8, a School Library Journal blog by Betsy Bird.